Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - job

 noun  Etymology: Latin, from Greek Iob, from Hebrew Iyyobh  Date: 14th century  1. the hero of the book of ~ who endures afflictions with fortitude and faith  2. a narrative and poetic book of canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture — see bible table JOB  I. noun  Etymology: perhaps from obsolete English ~ lump  Date: circa 1627  1.  a. a piece of work; especially a small miscellaneous piece of work undertaken on order at a stated rate  b. the object or material on which work is being done  c. something produced by or as if by work do a better ~ next time  d. an example of a usually specified type ; item a 14,000-square-foot ~ with…seven bedrooms — Rick Telander  2.  a. something done for private advantage suspected the whole incident was a put-up ~  b. a criminal enterprise; specifically robbery  c. a damaging or destructive bit of work did a ~ on him  3.  a.  (1) something that has to be done ; task  (2) an undertaking requiring unusual exertion it was a real ~ to talk over that noise  b. a specific duty, role, or function  c. a regular remunerative position  d. chiefly British state of affairs — usually used with bad or good it was a good ~ you didn't hit the old man — E. L. Thomas  4. plastic surgery for cosmetic purposes a nose ~  Synonyms: see task  II. verb  (~bed; ~bing)  Date: 1694  intransitive verb  1. to do odd or occasional pieces of work for hire  2. to carry on public business for private gain  3. to carry on the business of a middleman or wholesaler  transitive verb  1. to buy and sell (as stock) for profit ; speculate  2. to hire or let by the ~ or for a period of service  3. to get, deal with, or effect by ~bery  4. to do or cause to be done by separate portions or lots ; subcontract — often used with out  5. to penalize or deprive unfairly  III. adjective  Date: 1710  1. British that is for hire for a given service or period  2. used in, engaged in, or done as ~ work a ~ shop  3. of or relating to a ~ or to employment a guarantee of ~ security